Barry Harris © Andrea Canter

Piano legend and NEA Jazz Master Dr. Barry Harris will appear for a week at the Village Vanguard in New York on Tuesday, July 21st through Sunday, May 26th. Harris is part of an exceptional crew of Detroit-bred jazz musicians, including Tommy Flanagan and Donald Byrd, who rose through the extraordinary arts education program in the public school system during the 1930s and 1940s. Harris' earliest musical mentor was a church piano-playing mother who exposed him to piano lessons at age four. He became seriously immersed in jazz in the mid- 1940s and fell under the spell of Thelonious Monk, Charlie Parker, and Bud Powell. As a professional, he would become a key translator of Monk's music. Dr. Harris will be joined by his long standing rhythm section of Ray Drummond on bass and Leroy Williams on drums. 

Tammy Scheffer

The Cornelia Street Café in Manhattan presents an exciting double bill as the May installment of its monthly “Voxify Vocal Series” when innovative vocalists Tammy Scheffer and Aubrey Johnson perform on Tuesday, May 14th. Voxify is hosted by New York vocalist Nicky Schrire.

Scheffer and Johnson share an alma mater (New England Conservatory), record label (Greg Osby’s Inner Circle Music), and approach to music –both compose and arrange original works, lead their own bands, work with other ensembles, and share an “instrumental” approach to singing. Yet both vocalists offer significant contrasts as well. Scheffer will present her latest project, a collection of folk-inspired songs that explore the ideas of home, travels, and belonging.  Johnson will perform material from her upcoming debut album, drawing heavily on her Brazilian, jazz, folk, and classical influences. Although this is their first double bill, Aubrey and Tammy have shared the stage in the past in various vocal ensembles.

Dave Brubeck © Andrea Canter

"A Celebration of the Life and Music of Dave Brubeck" will be held on Saturday, May 11, 2013 at 4:00 P.M. at The Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine, 1047 Amsterdam Avenue in New York City. There are no tickets to this event; the event is free and all are welcome. This is the only family-­‐sponsored event. Artists scheduled to perform include Chick Corea, Paquito D'Rivera, Branford Marsalis, Paul Winter, Eugene Wright, Randy Brecker, Jon Faddis, Roy Hargrove, Roberta Gambarini, Bill Charlap, John Salmon, Renee Rosnes, Andy Laverne, Ted Rosenthal, Rufus Reid, Hilary Kole, Michael Pedicin, Jr., Mark Morganelli, Deepak Ram, The Brubeck InsWtute Alumni Jazz Quintet and Darius, Chris, MaFhew and Dan Brubeck. Speakers include The Very Reverend Dr. James A. Kowalski, Dean of the Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine, Iola Brubeck and George Wein. Sirius XM's Mark Ruffin will host the proceedings. Information on The Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine can be found at www.stjohndivine.org or by calling 212-­‐316-­‐7540.